STOCKHOLM CARD WILL HAVE A SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FLAVOR

On April 6, the UFC returns to Stockholm, for UFC on Fuel TV 9. It is common for the organization to stack an international card with local fighters from the region to gain interest, helping ticket sales and growing their global footprint for interest in the sport.

While the main event feature’s Stockholm’s hometown hero, Alexander Gustafsson, the main card holds more ties to San Diego than anywhere else in the world. Of the six main card fights, five have roots in Southern California.

Gustafsson himself usually splits his training camp between Sweden and Alliance MMA in Chula Vista. He joined The Alliance after falling to Phil Davis in his only professional loss. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. Since the move, Gustafsson has continually improved his wrestling and jiu jitsu game to complement his world-class boxing and putting him in top position for a title shot, something promised to him pending a victory over his last opponent, Shogun Rua. That opportunity was postponed pending the outcome of the Jon Jones-Chael Sonnen circus, but in the meantime, he gets a quality opponent in Gerard Mousasi, fighting out of the Netherlands. Mousasi is a transport from Strikeforce, and holds a 33-3-2 record. Gustafsson is favored in his hometown, but should not take this one lightly. He could easily be knocked down the totem pole and replaced by the Iranian.

Ross Pearson, an Englishman now with The Alliance, is coming off an impressive win in the main event of “The Ultimate Fighter, Australia” and goes against Ryan Couture in the co-main event in Sweden. Couture also came over from Strikeforce and holds a 6-1 record. He’s the son of UFC hall of famer Randy Couture, and has a balanced, technical attack. Pearson is gorilla strong and fights mean. He hits hard and pushes forward. I have to give the edge to Pearson, but Couture is cerebral and will be tough to get to play into a slugfest. If Pearson does get close, Couture could go lights out for the first time in a young career.

Phil De Fries, another Brit turned San Diegan, matches up well with Matt Mitrione in the heavyweight division. Both men need a win, with Mitrione coming off two straight losses and De Fries losing by first-round TKO in his last bout. These days, after bringing in the top fighters from Strikeforce, the UFC isn’t keeping folks around through much of a losing streak. These guys will be fun to watch; they are both big punchers with something to prove.

Also coming off loses are Englishman Brad Pickett and Mike Easton, representing The Alliance from their Team Lloyd Irvin branch, and finishing up camp in San Diego. Easton is a wrestler and jiu jitsu fighter who has gained more attention for his standup. He started training at age 17 to be in the UFC and holds a 13-2 record at age 29 and has been gunning for the bantamweight belt, held by his teammate, Dominick Cruz ... always interesting.

Robbie Peralta started his fighting career in the streets of Escondido and worked in a recycling plant before turning to professional fighting. He’s a blue collar local with two titles in Gladiator Challenge and on a 10-fight winning streak. He has finished 15 fights, 13 of which were via KO.